Happy Holidays from our bb's to you!

Mercedes glanced into the mirror, she wore her brothers Chiefs jersey and her hair in a high ponytail. Her leg was still bothering her but she was too excited to see her brothers to care.

Sam stepped up behind Mercedes and rested his chin on her shoulder. "You look gorgeous," he promised her with a little smile.

Mercedes turned toward Sam and smiled. "Even with my horrible leg?"

"Your leg is not horrible, it's just healing," Sam insisted, taking both her hands in his. "But, yes, every bit of you is breathtaking. Gonna be hard to actually watch the football game today."

Mercedes wrapped her arms around his neck. "God I love you Sam Evans. Always and forever." She kissed him deeply, standing on one leg.

"Mmm, I love you too," Sam replied easily. "Are you sure we shouldn't get a wheelchair to get you through the stadium?"

"Hey I thought you said that you would carry me?" She teased. "But no, Mac has actually hired someone to take me up and bring me back. Told you I was spoiled."

"Well, I... wait, is someone else going to be carrying you?" Sam asked for clarification. "Or like someone will wheel you up? Because if there's going to be carrying, I should be doing the carrying."

"I think he was gonna have one of the Rookies do it... I am not sure if they are carrying me or pushing me though."

"Okay, but see... I am here for the carrying and the pushing," Sam pointed out once again, his hands on his chest in emphasis. "No football players needed!"

Mercedes nodded. "I will let them know. Now the car should be here any minute is everyone ready?"

Sam was nervous enough about meeting her brothers, much less having some attractive, rich football guy carrying her around. He wiped his hands on his jeans and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I think so."

"Okay let's go." She grabbed her purse and held her arms out. "Time to carry me to the door."

Sam sighed as he bent down and lifted her up. "Why do I feel like you're gonna milk this for as long as you can?" he teased as he made his way down the stairs carefully.

"Because having a big strong man who can carry me around is a great thing."

"For you," Sam teased. "But really, we probably should get a wheelchair for the stadium. Not that I don't love carrying you around, but there will be a crowd there and I don't want anyone running into your legs if they're sticking out."

She nodded teasing his neck with her tongue as they walked down the stairs. "Uh huh."

"Babe, do you want me to drop you?" Sam gave her a little squeeze as they reached the first floor.

"Gross," Stevie declared as he walked by.

"Don't you mean adorable Stevie? And Sam if you drop me on my butt Im telling." she teased.

"No. I mean gross," Stevie laughed.

Sam pouted as he looked at her. "That's not fair. You're the one distracting me from the carrying. Now, where's the car?"

Mercedes laughed. She looked at her phone and smiled. "Its pulling up now! Let's go outside." She smiled pulling the front door open as Dr. Matthew Jones stepped out of the car looking like Terry Crews. "BUG!" She squealed in Sam's arms.

Sam set his feet apart to keep himself from actually dropping her on the ground. "Oh my god, with the wiggling and squealing. I have ears, babe."

Blaze stepped up beside him with a smile. "You want me to take that?"

"Go away."

"I am so sorry but that's my Bug!" She said as he came up to them taking Mercedes in his arms and hugging her.

"Look at you baby sis! Looking more beautiful than ever. He looked over to Sam and Blaze still holding her. "And which one of you is Evans?"

"I am," Sam answered.

"Technically, I am too," Stevie pointed out from the porch.

Sam sighed. "That's my little brother. I'm... her Evans. Sam. I'd shake your hand, but..." He gestured to him holding his sister up.

Matthew threw Mercedes over his shoulder as she screamed and held out his hand. "Nice to officially meet you."

"BUG PUT ME DOWN!"

"Nope." he said shaking her. She screamed and someone cleared his throat. "Matthew your sister is hurt be careful."

Mercedes looked up and screamed louder. "Poppa!"

Sam shook the hand offered to him. He looked up at the scream, his eyes widening slightly. Thankfully, he didn't actually pass out. "Oh, god," he whispered, his knees giving out just a little.

Blaze reached an arm out and steadied his friend. "Blaze Endler," he introduced himself. "Best friend of the nervous boy."

Matthew gently put Mercedes down as their parents walked closer to them. Mercedes reached out and hugged them before using Sam to hold her up. "Sam these are my parents Richard and Maria Jones who surprised the heck out of me. Mom, Poppa this is my Sam. And his little brother Stevie and best friend Blaze."

Sam took a deep breath and reached his hand out again. "It's very nice to meet you both," he said. "My parents are on their way out. They've just gotten a little slower over the years." He let out a nervous chuckle.

"Haven't we all dear." Maria said. "It's nice to finally put a face with the name, Mercedes hasn't stopped talking about you since she met you. And trust me for her that's huge."

Mercedes blushed. "You guys should have told me you were coming."

"Well we heard you were hurt and wanted to see for ourselves that you were okay. And to thank Sam and his family for taking care of you." Richard Said.

Sam turned to smile softly at Mercedes, kissing the side of her head. He still couldn't help but feel a little responsible for the fact that she was hurt at all, but now wasn't the time for that. "It's been great having her here, even if the motivator wasn't very good."

Mercedes couldn't have been happier than in that moment. "Okay well I am pretty sure Mac is waiting for us. You know he wants to see us before the game so we should get going."

Stevie opened the front door and started to call out. "Ma..." But his parents were right there so he cut himself off.

"There's no need to yell, Stevie," Mary insisted, patting her son's cheek. "We're right here, ready to go." She went down the front steps with her husband following behind her.

Mercedes turned towards them. "Momma Evans I would like to introduce you to my parents Richard and Maria and my brother Matthew."

Maria hugged Mary with a smile. "Thank you for taking care of my baby."

"Oh, thank you for sharing her with us," Mary replied happily. "She's made Sammy a whole new man. I'm Mary, this is my husband, Dwight. I see you've met our boys and our extra one. Our daughter's meeting us at the stadium."

"C'mon, let's get you off your feet and in the car," Sam urged, wrapping an arm around Mercedes' waist.

Richard immediately began to talk to Dwight and as Mercedes wrapped her arms around Sam's neck she smiled looking at them. "Looks like they are getting along."

"That they are," Sam agreed as he helped her into the car.

"Speaking of meeting us there," Stevie interrupted, sticking his head from the other side. "Will anyone else... in particular... be meeting us there?"

Mercedes shrugged. "I dunno I mean my sister in law Quinn will be there...Oh Santana is coming Blaze." She teased as Sam lifted her. "Marley is probably already there," she finally said.

"Why does she do that to me?" Stevie asked.

Sam laughed as he made sure she was settled safely. "Because I taught her well."

The ride to the stadium was really fun stories of young Mercedes and young Sam. It was clear that Sam loved Mercedes and she loved him. And their families seemed to get along.

"You said your brother was sending someone to meet us?" Sam asked her as the car pulled into the stadium. "I'm a little nervous about getting you through the crowds without any help."

The car pulled up and she nodded. When the door opened she almost leapt out the car seeing Mac. "Mac! What are you doing here! You are supposed to be on the field."

"I have time, I needed to see you."

"Be careful!" Sam shouted, his heart leaping up into his throat at the way she moved. He stepped out behind her and held his arms out to steady her.

"You'd think after being my friend all these years, you'd be used to people not listening to you," Blaze laughed.

"I'm sorry but its my brother!" She hugged him and looked at Sam. "This is Mac or The Mac Train Marcus Jones. Mac this is my Sam. And his amazing family."

Sam swallowed as he looked up at the man, but held his hand out to shake it. Hopefully, all the bones would stay intact. "It's nice to meet you."

Stevie got out of the car in his Titans jersey and his eyes widened slightly. "Hello there. Please don't break me."

Mac laughed, "Nice to meet you too. As for you." He said eyeing Stevie like he was about to break him. "It's all good. As long as my baby sis wears my Jersey I am good."

Stevie laughed, though still a bit nervously as their parents all filed out of the car behind them.

"I'm sure he understands considering we've lived here all ours lives," Dwight pointed out, laying his hands on his son's shoulders. "I'm sure it'll be a good game today though."

Mac nodded. "Exactly sir." He moved showing Mercedes the chair he brought. "Now let's get our family and future inlaws up to the box. I do have a game to play." He looked at Sam but then helped Mercedes into the seat as she blushed.

Sam's mouth opened, but he shut it quickly and he just smiled. He moved behind Mercedes' chair so he could push her. As they walked, he leaned down. "Did I sleep propose?" he whispered.

Mercedes just shrugged unsure if her brother was determined to embarrass her completely. As they made their way to the box she felt more at peace then she had ever felt. Seeing Quinn, Santana and Marley she beamed. "My girls!"

Santana looked at her and shook her head. "Damn Wheezy I had to walk my sexy ass all the way up here and you get the full service treatment?"

"Santana! Stop." Quinn said as she moved closer to them. She kissed Mercedes cheek.

Mercedes looked at them, as Marley moved closer to Stevie. "Evans clan this is the remainder of my family. Guys this is Sam and his amazing family."

Stacey was already there too and hopped up to greet her family with hugs. "This place is awesome!" she whispered with excitement. She moved to hug Mercedes as well. "Glad to see you're feeling better."

Blaze, being a little less subtle, just walked into the place and surveyed it. "I'm living like a king today!"

Hugging Stacey, Mercedes wheeled herself into the room and stood, letting Quinn and Santana help her. "So I want to know everything."

Quinn smiled. "Me too, I love your brother you know I do but I mean Sam is hot."

Santana looked at him. "Yeah he can get it. His brother and friend too."

"San! Keep your hands off my man."

Santana shrugged. "Fine."

Sam couldn't help but keep his eyes on Mercedes. He had a natural protective instinct anyway, but after everything they'd been through, his nerves were on high alert all the time. Taking a deep breath, he stepped up to Mercedes' brother. "Hey there. Cedes has been gushing about you for weeks. She was really excited to see you today."

Matthew looked at Sam then looked back at Mercedes. "I am excited to see her too. Merce is the best little sister, always there when we need her, and when she needed us, we weren't here. Nothing against you and your family, I can tell you love her." He heard Mercedes laughing. "But I have been there to protect her through everything. And this I wasn't here for."

Sam nodded slowly in understanding. "To be honest, I was there and I still feel like I didn't protect her enough," he admitted. "I know she's gonna wanna go back to work soon too and that's scary as hell."

"That girl has no quit in her. She has to do things in her own time in her own way." He patted Sam on his back. "You never feel like you do enough when someone you love is hurt, but trust me you a good dude I can tell. And I can say I will try to talk to her but you know Merce. The girl got stood up and cried for about an hour then left. We of course followed her and she went to the dude's house, cussed him out and went on her way. We want to protect her but she will always try to prove she can hold her own."

Sam smiled at that, looking over at her again. "That's why I love her so much. We ran into that Noah guy she was seeing before me, you know? And I wanted to punch the guy with the way he was talking to her, but I learned pretty quickly I didn't need to. She woulda done it herself."

Matthew nodded folded his arms. "Growing up with Mac and I as brothers she couldn't really do anything but be badass, she ever tell you why she wanted to be a Lawyer?"

"Just that she wanted to help kids get second chances," Sam said, glancing over at his friend. "Coulda used someone like her for Blaze when we were teenagers," he laughed.

Matthew nodded. "Partly. But the truth is, she has always had that heart. And I think her need to help people fused with her need to be the best and honestly it makes her such a great lawyer, but not a good person to sit on the sidelines." He sighed looking away from the girls and looking towards Sam. "I like you, but I need to know what your intentions are with my sister. I need to know why I shouldn't convince her to come live with me or our parents for a while?"

"My intentions are to spend my life with her," Sam replied easily, but a sigh followed it. "But if I'm being completely honest, it's because I love her so much that part of me feels like that wouldn't be a horrible idea. I'm so scared of something else is gonna happen to her, no matter what I do."

"I get that. So then what are we gonna do. How are we gonna keep her safe because if anything happens to her, if Mercedes-." he stopped calming himself down. "You guys still have no idea who is doing this?"

Sam sighed again, leaning against the wall behind him. "I wish I knew the answers," he said, shaking his head. "I still think my ex-girlfriend has to be involved somehow, but I have no solid evidence at the moment. No one showed up to the farm since we put the security cameras in."

Matthew nodded as Richard walked over to them. "I sure hope bug isn't giving you a hard time?"

"How have I not outgrown that nickname?"

Sam chuckled. "My parents will be calling me Sammy boy for the rest of their lives, I promise you. It's part of the fun of family."

"You eat one bug on a dare and you are stuck with a name forever." he laughed. Richard sighed. "You know I wasn't sure when my daughter said she was in love but between you and your family, I can see why."

"It could be worse. Your actual given name could be Blaze," Sam pointed out.

"I heard that," Blaze called out from the snack table.

Sam laughed before turning back to Mercedes' father. "I can guess it's always hard to hear that sorta thing at first. But that means a lot, sir. I love her very much and my family does too."

"Guys! Mac is taking the field!" Mercedes yelled back at them.

"Queen Mercy has spoken we better join them."

Sam hurried over, wrapping an arm around her waist to give her a little more balance. "Careful there, love. Your excitement's gonna knock you on your ass," he teased.

She smiled kissing his cheek. "I got a lot of cushion if I do though."

"Oh, I'm aware," Sam replied as quietly as he could, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one heard him. He was going to make it through this day without getting hit.

Mercedes blushed. "Mmmmm wait til I get you alone." She said leaning against him.

"Hush before you get me in trouble," Sam teased, rubbing at her back. He pressed a kiss to her temple before looking out to the field.

Richard smiled looking at Sam and Mercedes, he really wanted to find something wrong with Sam but he couldn't, mercedes was happy and that's all that mattered to him.

Blaze stepped up on the other side of Sam with a chicken wing in each hand. "What took you so long to find her, man? This food is bomb. And look at the view of the field."

"Why did I bring you again?" Sam sighed.

"Blaze! You better not eat all the chicken!" She teased. "I am hungry and I want chicken."

"First come, first served, pretty lady," Blaze insisted as he took another bite.

Sam just rolled his eyes as always. "Would you like me to get you a plate, baby?"

Mercedes pouted. "But I wanted chicken." She said batting her eyes sadly. "And I'm hurt."

"There's more chicken, woman. And you have a man," Blaze pointed out.

"I'll get you some chicken, but you both have to stop saying the word 'chicken'," Sam insisted.

Mercedes smiled leaning into Sam. "You are so good to me and I will stop but take him away." she said laughing and pointing to Blaze.

"Understood." Sam grabbed Blaze's collar and drug him along as they went back to the food table.

Stacey shook her head, used to their antics by now, and stood next to Mercedes. "Can I ask you a question without you judging me?"

Mercedes laughed watching them leave and she looked at Stacey. "I wouldn't judge you Stacey whats up?"

Stacey munched on a cracker, attempting to look innocent. "Are both your brothers married?"

Mercedes laughed smiling at Stacey. "Bug, the one right there he is divorced and single at the moment, why?" she asked pretending not to know.

Stacey shrugged nonchalantly, glancing around. "Just curious, you know? Want to get to know your family!"

"Sure, I get that. Well Quinn over there, she is married to Mac, the one on the field. But I mean they are older than me so I have that little sister complex thing." She said nonchalantly.

Stacey hummed as she nodded. "Yes, I'm familiar with that."

Sam returned with a plate of food for Mercedes. "I brought you bird. Here's an idea... sitting down while you eat it!"

"You should go talk to him. Bug is pretty cool." When Sam came Mercedes smiled. "Do I get to sit on your lap? Cause if not the deals off."

"If it'll get you to sit down, sure," Sam chuckled. "And why are we talking to Bug? Who, by the way, would love for you to stop calling him that."

"Then give me your lap." Mercedes looked at Stacey and smiled. "Well she wants to get to know my family and the best way to do it is to talk to him. And I am gonna call him bug forever."[

Sam pulled a chair up and sat in it, gesturing at his lap. "She's got parents too, you know?" he said, looking up at his sister.

"I'm aware... Sammy boy." Stacey gave Sam's cheek a pat before wandering off to talk to Matthew.

"Leave her alone Sam, I know its hard but focus on me instead." She said sitting on his lap. She grabbed a piece of chicken. "Want some...bird?"

Sam's arms fit comfortably around Mercedes' waist and he pouted at her for a moment. He gave her a little nod and opened his mouth up, taking a bite. "Well... so far your family doesn't hate me. And Blaze hasn't gotten us thrown out yet. Success."

"I told you they would love you." She said taking her own bite. "Okay Blaze was right, this is really good."

"Blaze knows his chicken. Yeah, I said it," Sam laughed, still rubbing her back gently. "Your brother's worried about you, you know?"

Mercedes laughed. "You couldn't keep saying bird could you?" She said laughing. sighing she leaned on his shoulder. "I know he is, and so are you and my parents and your parents."

"Nope, it sounds even weirder," Sam admitted. "Those are all true things, yes. You're kind of a big deal around here."

Mercedes sighed. "I'm scared too. Really scared but I can't let that stop me. I have to keep living my life. And so do you."

Sam nodded slowly, still unsure what the best course of action was. "Does that mean you still wanna find a place together?"

Mercedes nodded. "Of course I still want to live with you. I love you and I can't imagine not living with you."

Sam couldn't help but smile at that, kissing her cheek. "I can't imagine not living with you either."

"So does this mean we get to go searching for houses soon?"

"We can do that, yeah." Sam was sure he'd do anything she asked of him, which only served to help him realize how in love he was. That and he was at an NFL game and he couldn't take his eyes off of Mercedes.

Mercedes bit her bottom lip with a wicked smile on her face. "Oh no, looks like I have to go to the bathroom... there is a private one around here but how can I get there..."

Sam squinted his eyes slowly as he looked up at her. He glanced over his shoulder quickly. "I am not having sex with you in a public restroom when your parents and brothers are here," he whispered.

Mercedes moved to his neck, kissing just below his ear. "Are you sure?"

Sam squirmed slightly and poked at her side. "Babe!" he hissed, looking around frantically. His cheeks were no doubt a bright red.

Mercedes laughed. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to tease you a bit." She kissed his cheek . " You are a really great guy Sam."

Sam just shrugged slightly. "I mean like... what if your dad has to pee and he hears us... nope. Not even gonna say it."

"Sam I am pretty sure they know we are having sex. So it won't be anything new to them.

"Yes, but we're in a football stadium. I don't want them to think that I have no control," Sam insisted, pressing a hand to his chest.

"But just so we are clear, you will have sex with me on a balcony, on a beach and in a car but just not here."

"Your parents weren't at those places to know I had no control," he explained with a laugh. "And that was our balcony."

"Okay, Okay I get it. But just so you know I wanna find a place with a balcony...just saying."

Sam raised a curious eyebrow and his smile returned. "Now that I can get on board with. Just be prepared for me to be doing yard work and yell up some Shakespeare at you."

"Thats really hot, will you be shirtless?"

"Obviously. I told you it gets hot in Tennessee." He smirked up at her as he rested his head on her shoulder. "Of course, I don't actually know any Shakespeare, but I'll work on it."

Laying her head against his, she smiled. "Even if you don't I am sure that it will be perfect and romantic. "

"So as long as my girl's happy," Sam muttered, absentmindedly playing with her fingers. He found himself silently thinking about how much nicer one of them look with a little sparkle on it.

The crowd cheered and Mercedes looked up just in time to see Mac run in a touchdown. Hopping up on her good leg she cheered and yelled happily

Sam reached up on reflex and steadied her with his hands. "And in one piece," he muttered to himself.

Stevie came and sat next to his brother with a huff. "Do these people know we're in Tennessee?"

Mercedes laughed looking at Sam and Stevie. "Sorry dude but Mac has a big following."

"Are you saying the Titans don't?" Stevie asked with a look. "I will fight you. I don't care if you're a cripple." He let out an oomph sound as Sam elbowed him in the gut.

Mercedes turned towards him. "You wanna go? I can beat you with one leg behind my back!"

"That sounds painful, babe. I wouldn't," Sam laughed as he ate her chicken wings.

Stevie stuck his tongue out at her.

Mercedes stuck her tongue out at him. "Weare ahead by 3! HA!"

"A score that could change in an instant," Stevie pointed out.

"I'm the one who actually played football for awhile and you two are the ones arguing." Sam shook his head in amusement.

Mercedes laughed. "Its so cute you thinking that." She patted Stevie's cheek. "Keep dreaming Stevie."

"So... this relationship's run its course, am I right?" Stevie asked, turning to Sam. "I mean, you had a good run. But I think we're done now."

Sam rolled his eyes. "I think Blaze is talking to Marley."

"What?!" Stevie's head spun around he hopped from his chair.

Mercedes laughed shaking her head. "Messing with Stevie is so much fun. I am so here for it."

Sam nodded with a big smile. "Welcome to the joy of my life."

Mercedes sighed. "Ima go tell him Marley is a Chiefs fan." She stood carefully making her way to Stevie. "Stevie! Marley loves the Chiefs!" She yelled laughing.

Richard walked over to Sam sitting next to him. "You enjoying the game?"

Sam just laughed. Any day where Mercedes was happy and Stevie was being tortured was a good day for him. He smiled at Mercedes' father and nodded. "Yeah, absolutely. It was really nice of your son to invite my family."

"Mercedes wouldn't have had it any other way. We can't seem to say no to her. " he laughed. Taking a moment to look out onto the field he cleared his throat. "She's my baby Sam. And I like you son. I really do. And I know you want to protect her, but Matthew is right, maybe you should think of encouraging her to come back to Baltimore with us. "

Sam sighed and put the plate in his hands onto the little counter in front of him. "I'm sure you know her better than anyone, sir. And while part of me agrees with you both and thinks she might be safer there, the other part of me knows she'll never listen. And I'm afraid she'll just get angry at all of us and insist on going back to her apartment and be entirely alone."

Richard sat up. "That is why she needs to hear it from all of us. Though you are probably right. But I, we can't sit by and let someone hurt her. This threat isn't going away, whoever this is, is going to try again. She isn't safe here."

Sam looked over his shoulder at Mercedes and then down at his hands. He couldn't deny there was a selfish part of him that hated the idea of being so far away from her too. "She wants to get a house together," he told her father, finally meeting his eyes again. He took a deep breath. "And I want to marry her."

Richard looked at Sam for a long moment. He knew the man loved his daughter but hearing him now, and seeing the look on his face, he knew he was serious. "You want to marry her? Is this you asking my permission or just letting me know?"

Sam let out a puff of air as he tried to collect his thoughts. "I'm gonna be honest with you, sir. I'm not entirely sure. That's the first time I said it out loud," he admitted. "That's not to say your opinion doesn't mean something to me because it absolutely does."

Richard nodded. "I knew I wanted to marry Mercedes mother on our second date. Nothing went right and at the end of it, my car stalled out. She got out of the car and I figured she was done and wanted to be done with me but she got in the driver's seat. Told me to push and I did. Mercedes gets a lot from her mother, and a big thing is her independence. If you tell me that you want a future with my baby girl. That you can protect her and love her. Then I won't talk to her about leaving."

Sam smiled as he remembered something. "Actually, I was wrong. I came home after our first date and told Stevie I was going to marry her," he recalled. "Her being safe and happy is all that matters to me, sir."

Richard nodded. "For what it's worth. My daughter couldn't do any better."

Sam smiled then and held his out to shake the other man's. "Thank you, sir. I know I'm not a doctor or a lawyer. I run a produce farm. But my life will always be about caring for her."

"Money doesn't make the man Sam. Mercedes loves you and in her eyes that makes you worthy of her."

Sam knew it was true, but it was nice to hear it from someone other than Mercedes all the same. It reinforced it somehow. "I'll keep doing everything I can to make sure she's right."

Richard smiled. "Good luck and remember even if she is wrong, she is right."

"Oh, I've been learning that all my life," Sam laughed. "My pops taught me well, don't you worry."

"I can tell he has." He said finally. "Now I should get back to my wife, your mother and future mother-in-law are already planning a family Christmas." He said with a laugh as he walked back over to his wife and new found friends.

"I can't wait." Sam glanced over his shoulder and got up, calling out to Blaze. "Toss me a beer, bro." He caught the bottle and found himself at Mercedes' side again. His favorite place. "You make Stevie cry yet?"

Mercedes smiled seeing Sam, kissing him softly. She glanced at a distraught Stevie and smiled. "Not yet but watch this." She cleared her throat. "Hey Stevie we are up by 9, doesn't look like that comeback is happening, but thats okay, your jersey won't go to waste, it will look perfect in Chester's stall, he can use it to wipe his little donkey butt!"

"Hey!" Stacey called out. "Don't bring my innocent donkey into this! That's my son!"

Sam leaned on the counter, his head dropping as he laughed. He took a pull from his bottle and sighed. "Yeah, Christmas should be fun."